Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions. By collaborating with hyperscalers and ecosystem partners, Astera Labs enables organizations to unlock the full potential of modern AI. Astera Labs’ Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates CXL®, Ethernet, NVLink, PCIe®, and UALink™ semiconductor-based technologies with the company’s COSMOS software suite to unify diverse components into cohesive, flexible systems that deliver end-to-end scale-up, and scale-out connectivity. The company’s custom connectivity solutions business complements its standards-based portfolio, enabling customers to deploy tailored architectures to meet their unique infrastructure requirements. Discover more at www.asteralabs.com.
As an Astera Labs Product Applications Engineer, you will be part of a team that supports design-in of Astera Labs’ portfolio of connectivity products by the world’s leading cloud service providers and server and network OEMs. In this role, you will need to provide technical guidance to customers to overcome design challenges, generate collateral for existing and new products, and drive innovation by providing insightful feedback to other internal teams to continuously improve products and processes. You will investigate and duplicate issues reported by customers, and drive critical issues to resolution. There are opportunities to support key customers directly, and also to dive deep in the lab to address the challenges associated with leading edge semiconductor products.
Basic Qualifications
· Strong academic and technical background in electrical, electronics, or computer engineering or a closely related field. At a minimum, an engineering bachelor’s degree is required. A master’s degree is preferred.
· A minimum of 10 years’ experience working with cloud service providers or server or network OEM customers to design in complex SoC/silicon products for server, storage, and/or networking applications.
· Entrepreneurial spirit, open-minded approach, and can-do attitude. Think and act with the customer in mind!
Required Experience
· System HW design and bring-up and debug experience.
· Strong knowledge of NRZ/PAM4 SerDes-based protocols like PCIe, Ethernet (25G and above), etc. and/or memory interfaces such as (LP)DDR5/4/3.
· Firsthand experience with lab equipment including traffic generators, analyzers, and high-speed oscilloscopes.
· A strong background in high-speed board design and techniques for preserving signal integrity.
· Technical writing skills and the ability to generate clear, precise documentation including datasheets, application notes, and similar guides for both internal audiences and customers.
Preferred Experience
· Firmware development and in-system debug with C-language, scripting with Python or other equivalent programming languages.
· Development/support for PCIe or Ethernet switch products
· Working with silicon characterization/validation teams to ensure desired device performance is readily achievable in customer systems.
· Knowledge of simulation/modeling, schematic capture, and PCB layout tools from Cadence, Altium and others.
· Knowledge of simulation tools such as Keysight ADS, SiSoft QCD, and others, for IBIS-AMI analysis.
· Understanding of Data Center systems such as servers, compute nodes, JBOGs/JBODs, and networking switches/routers/interconnects, etc.
· Solid customer enablement experience
We know that creativity and innovation happen more often when teams include diverse ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, and we actively encourage everyone with relevant experience to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field
- At least 10 years of experience designing in complex SoC or silicon products for cloud service providers, server OEMs, or network OEMs
- System hardware design, bring-up, and debugging experience
- Strong knowledge of NRZ/PAM4 SerDes protocols, including PCIe and Ethernet 25G or higher, and/or DDR memory interfaces
- Hands-on experience with traffic generators, analyzers, and high-speed oscilloscopes
- Strong background in high-speed board design and signal integrity preservation techniques
- Technical writing skills for datasheets, application notes, and customer documentation
- Master’s degree in a relevant engineering field
- Firmware development and in-system debugging using C
- Python or equivalent scripting language experience
- Experience developing or supporting PCIe or Ethernet switch products
- Experience working with silicon characterization and validation teams
- Knowledge of schematic capture and PCB layout tools, including Cadence or Altium
- Knowledge of Keysight ADS, SiSoft QCD, or similar IBIS-AMI simulation tools
- Understanding of data center systems, servers, compute nodes, JBOGs/JBODs, networking switches, routers, and interconnects
- Customer enablement experience
Astera Labs Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Astera Labs and has not been reviewed or approved by Astera Labs.
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Healthcare Strength — Health plans are described as competitive and employer-subsidized, covering medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents. Company materials and listings consistently emphasize strong core healthcare coverage.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible time off is highlighted alongside paid company holidays, with guidance indicating generous PTO when coordinated with teams. Documented policies also point to robust time-off structures across locations.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock-based compensation is a meaningful part of total pay, with RSUs and an employee stock purchase plan noted as part of the package. Public-company status enhances perceived value and accessibility of equity components.
Astera Labs Insights
What We Do
Astera Labs Inc., a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, is a leader in purpose-built connectivity solutions for data-centric systems throughout the data center. Partnering with leading processor vendors, cloud service providers, seasoned investors, and world-class manufacturing companies, Astera Labs is helping customers remove performance bottlenecks in data-intensive systems that are limiting the true potential of applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The company’s product portfolio includes system-aware semiconductor integrated circuits, boards, and services to enable robust CXL, PCIe, and Ethernet connectivity.
